Intergenerational justice deals with justice between generations whilst intragenerational justice is focused on lines of cleavage between contemporaries such as economic disparities, gender issues and differences between states in the international system. This theoretical dichotomy is often rigidly formulated: that is to say that intra- and intergenerational concerns become independent from each other in the realm of ideal-theory. However, in the sphere of realpolitik, claims for both inter- and intragenerational justice must necessarily co-exist.

The philosopher Hans Jonas points out that the logical corollary of mankind’s increasing ability to fundamentally transform (and potentially impair irreversibly) nature is the need for a new ethics to account for future generations. But it is important to stress that this partition is not purely academic in scope: political decisions are often informed by only one type of justice, ignoring the consequences for other justices. On the other hand, proponents of the sustainability concept take all types of justice into account and, by often implicitly assuming that they are complementary, ignore possible trade-offs. Hence one can find, across a range of areas, a lack of intellectual endeavour focused on bridging the theoretical gap between the more traditional demands of social and international justice and the exigencies of intergenerational justice with real implication for praxis.

We welcome articles that explore philosophical questions as well as issues of practical politics at regional, national, and supra-national levels. Articles could relate to demography, ecology, pensions, state finance, employment, education and other topics traditionally related to intergenerational justice.

You can find the full call for papers here pdf

Intergenerational Justice Review 1/2010:
Call for Papers

'Ways to Legally Implement Intergenerational Justice'

Future individuals are not yet born, that is why they are unable to be involved in today’s decision-making process., Therefore their interests are all too often neglected. The principle of deliberative democracy, in its narrow form, can collide with the imperatives of intergenerational justice. The frequency of national elections every four or five years leads to a focus of politicians on the needs and desires of present citizens — their electorate. This may result in political short-termism.This IGJR issue deals with ways to reconcile democracy with intergenerational justice (or sustainability – if understood as safeguarding the needs of future generations) by institutionalising the interests of future generations in the decision making process of today. Conflicts between present and future generations can arise if, for instance, the present generation fails to care for the environment. The conflict is especially apparent if this lack of care triggers perilous climate change. Conflicts can also arise in financial politics. Rising budget deficits and high public debts may harm the interest of future generations. In politics we may well consider these two issues the most relevant ones. Thus the upcoming IGJR issue will focus on the implementation of intergenerational justice through legally guaranteeing environmental sustainability and financial solidity.

You can find the full call for papers here PDF